Single process picker system



Oct. 13, 1936. R. s. cuRLEY ET AL SINGLE PROCESS PICKER SYSTEM FiledAug. 11, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l /M/ENTORSI ion/ven Oct. 13, 1936. R. s,CURLEY ET AL 2,057,641

SINGLE PROCESS PICKER SYSTEM Filed Aug. 11, 193s 5 sheets-sheet 2 SINGLEPROCESS PICKER SYSTEM AFiled Aug. 11, 193s 5 sheetssheet s Oct. 13,1936.` I R. s. CURLEY ET AL 2,057,641

SINGLE PROCESS PICKER.SYSTEM Filed Aug. ll, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4MVENTQRSI BY dif I I ATTORNE Oct. 13, 1936. R. s. CURLEY ET AL l SIGLEyPROCESS PICKER .SYSTEM Filed Aug. 11, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYPatented Oct. 13, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,057,641 y SINGLEPROCESS PICKER SYSTEVI Application August 11, 1933, Serial No. 684,690

24 Claims.

In recent years the so-called single process picker systems have almostuniversally displaced4 the former two-process and three-process systemsused in preparing cotton for the carding work the cotton into a suitablecondition for delivery to the card while avoiding any intermediatemanual handling' of the cotton. A system.

which has proved highly successful commercially and has gone into Wideuse is shown in the Curley Patent No. 1,908,224, granted May 9, 1933.

The present invention relates to systems of this general character andis also concerned with the machinery preceding it which prepares thecotton for the picking operation. It aims to improve such systems andmachinery with a view to devising a simpler organization, reducing theinitial ,expense of such installations, effecting a better blendingofthe stock, and producing a more uniform iinal product.

It has been definitely determined that the pro- Y duction of a sliver orroving in a carding machine depends chiefly upon the degree ofuniformity in thelapied to that machine. In other words, the productionof such a roving or sliver, even with the best carding equipment andpractices available, is vitally aected by the operations precedingcarding, and if the lap fedv to it has a substantial yard for yardvariation in weight, nothing that can be done in the carding machinewill correct that variation. It has also been determined that theproduction of a lap having a high degree of yard for yard uniformity is,in turn, dependent chiey upon the rate of feed of the cotton to thebeater of the finisher lapper. The present invention is especiallyconcerned with this problem and it aims to devise a thoroughly practicalsolution for it.

'I'he nature of the invention will be readily understood from thefollowing description when read in Aconnection with the accompanyingdrawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a picker system embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view y an automaticcontrol system which forms an important feature of this invention;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the lay-out shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view through a portion ofthe intermediate chute of the system illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal, diagrammatic view of a. part of the drivingmechanism of said system; Fig. 8 is a side elevation, somewhatdiagrammatic in character, of a modification;

Fig. 9 is a similar View illustrating another modication;

Fig. 10 is a pian view of parts of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a form of conveyor whichpreferably is used in this system; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view substantially on the line iI-II, Fig. 11.

We have found that an important factor in realizing the necessary degreeof uniformity of feed to the finisher lapper to produce the high degreeof-yard for yard evenness or uniformity required in the finished lapconsists in thoroughly opening the fiber and producing-a complete anduniform blending of the stock before it is de- A livered to the beaterof the finisher lapper. Our experiments have demonstrated that animportant reason for the yard for yard variations which mills nd sotroublesome in their laps lies in the neglect of these factors. In orderto eliminate these variations it is necessary, or at least advisable, togo back into the system of machinery which prepares the cotton fordelivery to the pickers," since much of this work of properly opening,cleaning and preparing the fiber can be performed at this earlier stagein the entire process, and in machinery having a high production rate.

' Referring more especially to the general lay-out illustrated in Figs.4 and 5, the system there shown comprises two lines of opening machinesindicated at A and B, respectively, these two lines being arranged inparallel. Each line of opening system vincludes a bale breaker 2delivering into a hopper feeder 3 which, in turn, discharges its cottoninto a horizontal opener 4 from which it is carried into a verticalopener 5, the latter machine having an apron feed which discharges itscotton on to a horizontal feed table 6. All of these units or machinesin each system or line thus are arranged in series to act succcessivelyand continuously on a supply of loose cotton initially fed to the -balebreaker and to deliver that cotton in an opened condition to the feedtable 8. All of these machines are well known in the industry.

. Usually the cotton is taken from the bales by hand and thrown upon thefeed lattices of the bale breakers 2, and the proportions of thedifferent grades of fiber which go into the nal product are determinedat this point.

The feed table 6 conveys the cotton in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 4 to the intake endof a wind trunk 1 leading to acondenser 8. The fan I0 for this condenser and its delivery rolls may bedriven by suitable connections with an electric motor I2. This condenserdischarges its cotton on to the upper surface of a horizontal conveyorbelt I3 of a Morton distributor which distributes the cotton to a series-of hopper feeders I4. This distributor includes the usual gatearrangement controlled by feeler forks in the individual hoppers', as iswell understood by those skilled in this art. Each hopper feeder alsoincludes the' usual lattice feeding arrangement. Consequently, in thesefeeders the cotton is so distributed and worked by thefeeding mechanismthat a highly effective action is vproduced in them. Such a blendingaction is further improved by causing allof the hoppers to discharge orfeed on to a second horizontal feed table i5 which conveys the cotton tothe intake end of another wind trunk I6 leading to a second condenserI1.

The cotton is now suitably opened, blended and prepared for delivery tothe picking systems. Several such systems, in this instance three,indicated, respectively, at C, D and E, are arranged in parallel andcotton is fed to them by a distributor I8 to which cotton is deliveredby the condenser I1. Because of considerations of simplicity andeconomy, a. rake distributor preferably is employed, such an apparatusincluding a channel or trough for conducting the cotton and a series ofrakes connected together in an endless belt and which are draggedsuccessively through the trough and consequently carry the loose cottonwithk them. At the points where the cotton is to be discharged a hole isformed from the bottom of the trough and it simply drops through `thishole into'some suitable receptacle. This type of distributor is wellknown yso that no detailed description of it is required.

Some of the rakes of the distributor shown at I8 2, and the other,usually termed the finisher section, being located at the left of saidline.

` Considering the breaker section first, it will be observed that itincludes a beater 2l and a condenser 22, these two units being of commontype and connected tol each other in the usual manner. .Associated with:the beater is a feeding mechanism which comprises an` approximatelyupright chute 23, the upper end of which opens directly into the troughof the rake conveyor so that' cotton can flow freely into the chute andunder normal operating conditions the chute will constantly be kept'full of loose cotton. This to guide it toward the feed rolls 21 of thebeater 2|, the blades of the beater picking the cotton directly from therolls.

- We have found that if the cotton is Well opened a chute feedingmechanism .of the character just described will deliver cotton with ahigh degree of uniformity. This cotton is picked in the vbeater 2|,condensed in the screen section 22, and fe'd from the condenser by theusual delivery rolls 28 into the finisher section.

The latter section comprises a beater 30 and a/ condenser 3| connectedtherewith in the usual manner and includes a calender head of a commonor suitable type for delivering the web to thewinding rolls 32, all ofthese parts being constructed and arranged in a well lmown manner. Anovel mechanism is provided, however, to feed the cotton from thebreaker section to the beater. It comprises an upright chute 33 ofapproximately rectangular form in horizontal section with a. beater 34located in'the upper end thereof and arranged to pick from a pair offeed rolls 35. A grid 36 and a. dust box 31 are associated with thisbeater. Y The cotton issues from the delivery rolls 28 in the forr'n ofa web in which the Y bers are very loosely associated, and this web iscarried between two systems of upright belts 38 and 39 and across ashort guide plate 40 to the feed rolls 35. At this point the beatersubjects the cotton to a further picking operation, loosening the fiber,and beating out of it a substantial proportion vof the ne dirt stillcarried by it. This beating action is not necessarily as severe as thatof the beaters 2I or 30, but it sistency. It will be observed that thebeater 34 throws the cotton downwardly against the grid 36 and thendischarges it into the lower part of the chute where it falls throughthe chute by gravity. Also, that no suction or blower mechanism is usedin connection -with this beater. Consequenth, the dirt and wastematerials fall through the grid 36 into a. dead air space in the dustdrawer 31. 'I'his arrangement has been found to produce a; cleaningaction which is surprisingly effective at thispoint in the process.

The feed rolls 4I are similar to those shown at 24 and 25 in the rstchute 23, they are driven in opposite directions, and consequently, theyfeed a web of cotton out of the bottom of the hopper and into contactwith the uted roll 42 which directs the web across the pedals 43 of anevener mechanism and under the feed roll 44 cooperating with saidpedals. The-blades of the beater in the beater section 30 pick directlyfrom the pedals.- The cotton is carried forward through the finisherlapper in the usual manner andis rolled up into the wound lap 45.

The driving mechanism required` for the different. units will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in this art from an inspection of Fig. I,

and little detailed description of this mechanism isrequired. It may bepointed out, however, that the shaft 4B of the-beater section 30 usuallyis driven continuously by direct connections with a motor or some othersuitable source of power, and that thev beater 34 is belted 'directly tothe shaft 46. 'Ihe evener indicated in general at 41 is also connectedin the usual manner with the other elements of the finisher section, andthe upper or driven cone of this evener is positively connected with thefeed rolls 4I and the roll 42 so that the speed of these rolls variesinversely .with changes in the thickness of the web of cotton passingbetween the lpedals 43 and the feed roll. 44. As indicated in Fig. l theshaft of the upper cone of the evener is geared directly to the shaft ofthe feed roll 44 in the usual manner. The feed roll is chain connectedwith the shaft of one of the two feed rolls 4I which are geared togetherand the other of the latter feed rolls is chain connected to the shaftof the roll 42.

The driving connections -for the usual elements of the breaker sectionare similar to those commonly used heretofore, the beater shaft 50 beingdriven continuously from a motor or some other convenient source ofpower, and the other elements of this section deriving their power fromthis shaft. 'I'he connections between this shaft and the delivery rolls28 of the screen section or condenser 22 are like those commonly usedheretofore. For the purpose of driving the vertical conveyor belts38'and 39 the shaft of the lower roll for the belt 39 has a sprocket andchain connection, indicated at II, with the lower of the delivery rolls28. The shaft of the upper roll 5i side shaft 56 and driving the shaftof the roll 24.

The two feed rolls are geared together and chain connections between thelatter roll and the iluted roll 26 and the lower feed roll 21 drivethese rolls.

It will be observed that in this picker system, as shown in Figs. 1 and2, the breaker section and the finisher section are driven entirelyindependently of each other. This is quite contrary to anyarrangementheretofore used successfully in a single process pickersystem which has proved successful commercially. We have found, however,that by preparing the cotton in the manner above described anddelivering it to the chute 33in a well opened and fluffy condition, theAfeed rolls 4| will deliverv a web having a high degree of yard for yardevenness. providing a substantially constant quantity of cotton ismaintained in the chute. If. in addition, the web delivered by the feedrolls 4| is fed through an evener, as shown, and this evener is arrangedto control the speed of the feed rolls, then an exceptionally highdegree of uniformity in the A sheet produced in the calender can berealized.

It is extremely, important, however, to maintain the quantity of cottonin the chute 33 at substantially a constant level. For this reason andbecause of the very fluffy nature in which the cotton should bemaintained at this point, an exceptionally delicate mechanism must bepro- `vided to control the level of the cotton inthe chute 33. As shown,this mechanism comprises a feeler fork 58 mounted in the upper part ofthe chute`33 and securedrigidly on a shaft 68 which is supported inroller or ball bearings. An arm 6i also secured to this shaft tends toswing the feeler 58 forward, or toward the right, Figs -1 and 2.Consequently, this feeler is responsive to very upper part of the chute.

to the end of this shaft is an arm 62 equipped' small variations in thequantity of cotton in the section, as may be desired. The particulararrangement illustrated in Figs. l and 3 operates on the start and stopprinciple. It comprises a belt shifter 61 normally held in its runningposition, as shown in Fig. 3, by means of a solenoid or electro-magnet68 and controlling the position of the belt 69 through which all of thefeeding instrumentalities in the breaker section are driven from thebeater shaft 5I). Normally the switch 66 is closed and the solenoid isenergized, but when this switch is opened it de-energizes theelectromagnet 68, Figs. l and 3, whereupon the weight of the solenoidplunger operates to throw the belt shifter 61 into itsdotted lineposition, Fig. 3, and thereby shifts the belt 69 on to a loose pulley onthe shaft 1I and thus stops all of the cotton feedinginstrumentalitiesin the breaker section. In other words, it stops everything except thebeater 50 and the Yfan or blower 12 for the screen section 22. of theswitch occurs when the level of the cotton in the chute 33 risessufficiently to force the feeler fork or rake 58 toward the left, Figs.l and 2. Shortly after this action occurs the level of cotton in thechute will drop suiciently to enable the weighted arm 6| to swing therake or feeler back toward the right again, whereupon the switch 66 willbe closed, the solenoid or electro-magnet 68 will be energized, and willshift the belt 69 back to the fast pulley again and cause the breaker toresume its normal cotton feeding operations. This belt shifting movementof the plunger can be assisted by a springif desired. Consequently, thevariations in the quantity of cotton in the chute 33 will be maintainedwithin very narrow limits. Preferably the beater 34 is.s`o positionedwith reference to the rake 58 as to direct the incoming cotton againstit. 'Ihis arrangement appears to assist the rake in responding quicklyto minor changes in the supply in the level/of cotton in the chute. Itmay here be pointed o ut thata chute feeding mechanism is avary'diiferent mechanism 4from a hopper feeder, and the latter cannot besubstituted for the former in this system without losing very importantadvantages of this invention.

In order to enable the attendant to adjust the level at which the cottonwill be maintained the hub of the pointer arm 62 is releasably securedvto the shaft 60 by means of alset screw 13, Fig. 6. Whensuch a change isdesirable, therefore, it is simply necessary for the operator to loosenthe set screw and then to rotate the flanged hub 64 and the rake to thedesired position, the arm 62 remaining stationary during thisoperation.`

and then to tighten up the set screw again. This changes therelationship between the position of the rakeand that of the arm 62 andthe switch 66. Considerable adjustment in the weight of the webdelivered by the feed rolls 4I can be obtained in this manner.

A further variation in the weight of this web can be produced byadjusting the cross-sectional dimensionsof the chute 33. For thispurpose the This opening movement' Fastened adjustably rear wall 33',Fig. 2, ofthis chute preferably is made adjustable toward 'and from thefront wall. The former is made in a U-shape with flanges -extendingbackwardly, and these flanges are slotted to receive bolts 14-14 forsecuring the part 33 in itsadjusted position, the bolts projectingthrough the outer or main walls of the enclosure in which the cottoncontaining space or chamber is located. A plate 15, Fig. 2, hinged atits upper end adjacent to the end of the grid 36 so as to swing freelyfollows the movements of the plate 33 during its adjustment and alwaysrests against the upper edge of this plate. `With this arrangement avery considerable variation in the weightl of cotton contained in thechute can be made and such adjustment is valuable in controlling theweight of the lap that will be produced.

For example., we have found it possible simply by adjusting the rake, asabove described, to obtain laps at any desired weight between ten ouncesand sixteen ounces to the running yard without making any change ingearing. A further adjustment of this weight can be obtained by changingthe position of the plate 33', as above described. This feedingarrangement also enables us to use a draft of four to one between theevener roll and the calender in all weights of lap from ten to sixteenwhich has never been possible heretofore, so far as we have been able tolearn, in any picker system to which loose cotton is fed. This featureis of great practical importance since it enables the user to increasethe beats per inch to which the cotton is subjected and thus to effecta. better cleaning and a superior preparation of the cotton for carding.

In controlling the yard for yard variations in the weight of the lap thesensitivity of the feeler fork or rake and the control which thus isafforded over the quantity of cotton maintained in the chute areimportant factors. The fact that the rake is delicately mounted and thatit is required simply to operate a very sensitive switch, contributesgreatly to this result.

As above stated, the chute 23 of the feeding mechanism for the beater 2lof the breaker section is normallymaintained full of cotton. It

may happen, however, that some accident in theY preceding system willresult in this chute becoming empty, and, it is desirable under suchcircumstances to prevent the cotton from running out. An additionalautomatic control, therefore, is provided for this purpose. f Itconsists in -mounting the feed roll 25 on links; one of which is shownat 16 in Fig. l, so that .it can swing toward and from its companionroll 24, both of these links being pivoted on the shaft of the feed roll26 and at least one of them being extended below this shaft; A spring 11acts on this extension in a direction to press the roll 25 normallytoward the other roll 24. A handlela also is connected to this extensionso that the roll 25 can be manually moved, ,when desired. Normally therolls are separated by1 a distance equivalent to the thickness of theweb of cotton being fed through them, but if the supply of cotton in thechute should become depleted and the web should run out from betweenthese rolls, the roller 25 would immediately be moved toward theleftFig. l, and this movement will be transmitted through a link 80 to asecond, normally closed, mercury switch 3|, Figs. 1 and 3. This switchis in series with the switch 66 so that when this occurs it will operatethrough the connections above described to shut downthe breaker section.A second elecnisher section. In other words, the operation of the switch8| in the manner just described 'shuts down the cotton feeding units ofthe entire picker system and leaves simply the beaters and blowersrunning. In this connection it may be pointed out that while theconveyor belts 38 and 39 are driven from the breaker section, they arenot, strictly speaking, a part of either the breaker or nisher sectionbut are feeding units which carry cotton from one section to the other.

When the finisher section knocks oi at the completion of a lap, all ofthe cotton feeding mechanisms in it are stopped, as in any finisherpickenbut this does not aect the operation of the breaker section, theoperation of this section being controlled solely by the switches ,66and 8|, as just described.

It is desirable Ato control the operation of the supply system whichprepares the cotton for picking in accordance with the jointrequirements of the picking systems so that all the cotton which theyneed will be supplied at practically all times, but the delivery of anoversupply will be prevented. This is conveniently accomplished bypivotally mounting a feeler fork or rake 86, Fig. 2, in the upper partof each chute 23 and connecting it with a weighted arm 81 which urges itinwardly. Normally the weight of cotton in this chute will hold the rakeagainst the wall of the chute. An arm 88 secured on the shaft of therake outside the chute is connected by a link 90 with a mercury switch9| in such a manner that this switch is held open so long as an amplesupply of cotton is maintained in the chute. If this supply becomesdepleted, however, the feeler fork then will be rocked inwardly and thismovement will result in closing the mercury switch 9|. In Figs. 1 and 2the rake 86 and switch 9| are shown in intermediate positions betweenthose which they take when the chute is either empty or completely lled.As shown in Fig. 4, all of these switches are connected ir. parallelwith an electro-magnetic master switch 92 of a well known commercialtype. Consequently, so long as any switch remains closed current will bemaintained on'the closing magnet of the master switch, but when all ofthe chutes are full and the cotton picking systems therefore can take nomore cotton, all of the switches 9| will be opened, thus releasing theelectro-magnet of the master switch 92, whereupon this switch willautomatically open. As shown-in Fig. 4 this switch controls all of themotors 93, 94, 95 and I2 which drive the closingv of the mercury switch9| which it con- V trois.

In some systems, due to local conditions, it is not desirable to havethe motors I2 and 93 which operatethe blowers for' the condensers 8 andI1 75 shut down, and these motors need not be placed under the controlof the master switch 92.

As above stated, it is entirely feasible to utilize the control affordedby the feeler 58 to vary the speed ofl the various units which feedcotton into the chute 33. A'number of different arrangements can be madesuitable for this purpose and one such arrangement is illustrated inFig. 8. Here the feeler fork 58 is connected through bell crank leversand links 96 and 91 to the speed controlling lever 98 of a variablespeed electric motor |00. This motor is belt connected to the shaft ofthe breaker unit and operates through connections similar to those shownin Fig. 1 Afor driving all of the feed units between the chutes 23 and33. Consequently, when the quantity of cotton in the chute 33 increasesbeyond a predetermined value, it operates through the connections justdescribed to reduce the speed of the motor and consequently, to causeall of the feeding elements between the chutes 23 and 33 to operate at areduced speed. On the other hand, when the feeler fork 58 says that thequantity of cotton in the chute 33 is too small, it operates through thesame connections to speed up -the rate of delivery of the cotton to thelatter chute.

Figs. 9 and 10 show similar connections for enabling the feeler fork 58to adjust the belt of a variable speed drive including upper and lowercones |0| and |02, respectively, Fig. 10. Here When a variable speeddrive is used, as in thev arrangement shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, it isdesirable to shut down the breaker unit as well as ,the finisher unitwhen the machine knocks oif. As shown in Fig. 1, the drop bar |01 isconnected through a link |08 and an upright rock shaft |09 to the clutch(not shown) through which the`upper cone of the evener d1 drives thefeeding, units between the chute 33 and the beater l30. An arm ||0, Fig.8, on the rock shaft |09 is connected through a link ||2 to a beltshipper ||3 which controls the driving belt between the motor |00 andthe shaft 'Il and serves to shift this belt onto a loose pulley on theshaft 'H- when the machine knocks 0E.` The same connections shift thebelt in the reverse direction when the drop bar is raised to start themachine into operation again. Essentially the same arrangement isutilized in the construction illustrated in Figs. 9` and 10.

It may here be pointed out that in many installations it will bedesirable to run the rake distributor continuously so long as the systemis in. operation, or, in other words, not to shut down this distributorwhen the operation of the opening system is topped because of the factlthat all the chutes are full and their requireated by them. 'Ihat is,those chutes nearerthe supply end of the distributor will be kept fullof cotton continuously since they have the first call on any supply ofcotton delivered by the distributor. The only chutes liable to beinadequately supplied are those at the opposite end of the distributor,or, in other words, those remote from the supply end. Consequently, ifve or six chutes, or any substantial number, are supplied from a singledistributor, some expense can be saved by equipping only, say, the lastone or two chutes in the series with feelers 86 and switches 9|, or someequivalent controlling apparatus. It is desirable to have at least twochutes at the end of the series equipped with feelers and switches sothat the control aorded by one switch will be present in the system inthe event that the picker unit associated with the other is stopped,either due to the unit being knocked oif, or shut down for any otherreason.

In some installations it Will also be found desirable instead ofstopping the operation of the bale breaker and other cotton supplyingunits, to reduce their speed when the requirements of the chutes 23 havebeen supplied, and to increase the speed again automatically when thechutes call for additional cotton. In some drives this can be donesimply by using two speed electric motors to drive the various units andcontrolling them through a suitablev switch 92, as will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in this art. In other cases it will benecessary to include in the circuit controlled by the switches 9| anelectro-magnetically operated device for shifting a belt from a highspeed to a low speed pulley, or for adjusting a variable speed motor, orsome other type of variable speed drive, such, for example, as thatshown in Figs. 9 and 10.

In any of these arrangements, whether they shut down the opening unitsor merely reduce their speed in response to the requirements of thechutes, it is necessary to take care of the surplus cotton in transit,especially, that in the distributor I8. This can be done in the mannerillustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 by enclosing part of the upper run of thedistributor rakes 20' in a suitable inverted trough or casing ||8 sothat the surplus cotton not delivered to the chutes will simply bycarried around by the rakes continuously until it drops into one or moreof the chutes. A plate underlies the upper run of the rakes and supportsthe cotton while the latter is dragged along by the rakes and this isreturned to the supply end of the distributor.

While we have hereinshown and described a single process picker systemwhich has proved to be highly satisfactory, it will be understood thatthe invention may be embodied in a considerable variety of other formswithout departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Also, that featuresof the invention may be used in conjunction with other forms ofapparatus. For example, it is desirable for some purposes to vintroduceanother unit including a beater and a condenser between the breakersection and the chute 33, the condenser of the section so introduceddelivering its cotton to the belts 38 and 39 exactly as does the breakersection shown in Figs. 1 and 2, In fact, the details of any installationembodying the invention necessarily will vary with the local conditionsunder which the installation is to operate.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim as new is:

1. In a cotton picking system, the combination of a plurality of pickingunits arrangedin series for operation successively on a stream of cottonto Work it into the form of a wound lap, each of said units including abeater and a condenser, a chute feeding mechanism associated with eachof .said 'beaters for feeding cotton to them, and

means for continuously feeding the stream of cotton discharged by one ofsaid units in a continuous and unbroken condition to said chute feedingmechanism for the next succeeding unit, the latter chute feedingmechanism including means for picking the cotton in said stream anddelivering it to its respective chute in a light and iiufy condition.

2. A cotton picking system according to preceding claim l in combinationwith means responsive to variations in the quantity of cotton in theupper part of the feeding chute for 'the final unit for controlling thedelivery `of cotton thereto from a-preceding picker unit in such amanner as to maintain a substantially constant vquantity of cotton inthe latter chute.

3. In a cotton picking system, the combination of an approximatelyupright chute, a distributor for feeding loose cotton into the upper endof said chute, feed rolls at the bottom of said chute on which the bodyof cotton in the chute is supported,l a cotton picker located adjacentto the bottom of said chute, mechanism for driving said ported, a cottonpicker locatedracacent to the bottom of said chute, mechanism fordriving said feed rolls to cause them to feed cotton through the bottomof said chute toward said picker, a` feeler in said chute responsivel tovariations in the quantity'of cotton in the chute, cotton supplyingmeans including said distributor for preparing the cotton for pickingand delivering it to said chute, and means including said feeler forcontrolling the operation of said ycotton supplying means.

5. In a cotton picking` system, the combination of a plurality of pickerunits arranged in seriesv v*for operating successively on a stream ofcotton, each of said units including a beater and a condenser, a. chutelocated between said units,f mechanism for feeding the continuous web ofcotton received directly from the first of said umts l and dischargingitI into said chute, said chute being equipped with feed rolls and meansfor picking the cotton from said rolls and delivering the cotton sopicked directly into said chute, mechanism for feeding the cotton fromthe bottom of' said chute to the next succeeding unit of the system, andcontrolling means cooperating with said ilrst mentioned mechanism toautomatically mainmechanism for delivering tothe parto:

said chute a continuous web of cotton received directly from anddischarged by the first unit, a beater in the upper part of said chutefor picking thecotton so delivered and discharging the cotton so actedupon into the chute where it will fall down through the chute bygravity, and means at the bottom of the chutefor feeding the cottontherefrom to the next succeeding unit of said system.

7. In a cotton picking system, the combination of a picker unit, anapproximately upright chute,

a beater located at the upper end of said chute, means including aplurality of upwardly extending belts for gripping between them the webof cotton discharged by said unit and feeding it to said beater inposition to enable the beater to pick the web, and to discharge thepicked cotton directly into said chute where it will, fall down throughthe chute by 'gravity,'feeding means at the bottom of said chute onwhich the bodyof cotton in the chute is supported, mechanism for drivingsaid feeding means to causerit to feed a web of cotton from said chute,a second cotton picker, and mechanism for receiving the latter web ofcotton and feeding it to the latter picker.

8. In a, cotton picking system, the combination of a picker unit, anapproximately upright chute, means for delivering to the upper part ofsaid chute a continuous web of cotton` received directly from anddischarged by said picker unit,

mechanism for feeding the cotton through the bottom of said chute,abeater mounted at the upper end of said chute in position to pick thecotton delivered thereto by said means, a rocking feeler fork mounted inthe upper part of said chute to engage the cotton in said upper portionof the'chute, said beater being arranged to discharge the cottontherefrom directly toward said fork, and means under the control ofvsaid fork for governing the operation of said cotton delivering means.

-9. In a cotton picking system, the'combination of a picker'unit, anapproximately upright chute, means for delivering to the upper part ofsaid chute a continuous web of cotton received directly from anddischarged by said picker unit, mechanism for feeding the cotton throughthe bottom of said chute, a beater mounted at the upper end of saidchute in position to pick the cotton delivered thereto by said means, afeeler fork in engagement with the lcotton in the upper part of saidchute and responsive automatically to variations -in the quantity ofcotton in said upper portion of the chute, driving mechanism for saidcotton delivering means, and means for causing said Ifork to regulate,in accordance with variations in the quantity of cotton in said chute,the speed at which said driving mechanism will operate said vcottondelivery means.

10. vIn a cotton picking system, the combination of a plurality ofpicking units arranged in series for operating successively on a streamof cotton vto work it intoI the form of a wound lap, each of said unitsincluding a beater and a condenser, a chute feeding mechanism associatedwith each of said beaters, mechanism for feeding cotton from the firstof said units into the chute of the next succeeding unit, and mechanismassociated with the chute for the first unit for shutting down thesystem automatically when the supply of cotton in the latter chutebecomes depleted.

l1. In va cotton picking system, the combination of 'a breaker pickingunit and a finisher picker unit arranged inseries for operatingsuccessively on a stream of cotton to work it into the form of a woundlap, each of said units `including a beater and a condenser,mechanism'for feeding the cotton from the first of said units into thenext succeeding unit, andV mechanism for shutting down said systemautomatically when the supply of cotton in the first unit becomesdepleted and before the cotton runs out of said iirst unit.

12. In a cotton picking system, ,the combination of a. plurality ofcotton pickers, a plurality of approximately upright chutesassociatedwith the respective pickers, one for each picker, a rakedistributor for feeding loose cotton continuously into the upper ends ofsaid chutes and serving to maintain said chutes approximately filledwith cotton substantially continuously, a set of feed rolls at thebottom of each chute on which the body of cotton in the chute rests,mechanism for driving said feed rolls to cause each set of them to feedthe cotton through the bottom of its respective chute toward the pickerassociated therewith, cotton supplying means for preparing the cottonfor picking and delivering it to said distributor, apparatus responsiveto variations in the quantity of cotton inlthose chutes remote from thesupply end of the distributor, and means governed by said apparatus forautomatically controlling the operation of said cotton supplying meansin accordance with the requirements of the latter chutes.

13. In a cotton picking system, the combination of a plurality of cottonpickers, each provided with feeding means, a plurality of approximatelyupright chutes associated with the respecf tive pickers, one for eachpicker,l a distributor for feeding loose cotton continuously into theupper ends of said chutes, feeding means at the bottom of each chute onwhich the body of cotton in the chute rests, said feeding means beingadjacent said picker feeding means, mechanism forv driving said feedingmeans at the bottomof the chutes to cause it to feed the cotton throughthe bottom of 4its respective chute toward the picker associatedtherewith, cotton supplying means for preparing the-cotton for pickingand delivering it to said distributor, and electrical means forautomatically controlling the operation of said cotton supplying meansin accordance with the requirements of said chutes t 14. In a cottonpicking system, the combination of a plurality of cotton pickers, eachprovided with feeding means, a plurality of approximately upright chutesassociated with the respective pickers, one for each picker, adistributor for feeding loose cotton continuously intoI the upper endsof said chutes, feeding means at the bottom of each chute on which thebody of cotton in the chute rests, said feeding means being adjacentsaid picker feeding means, mechanism vfor driving said feeding means atthe bottom of the chutes to cause it to feed the cotton through thebottom of its respective chute toward the picker associated therewith,cotton supplying means for preparing the cotton for picking anddelivering it toy said distributor, a device responsive to variations inthe quantity of cotton in a chute remote from the supply end of thedistributor, and automatic means under the control of said device formaintaining said cotton supplying means in operation so long as anychute in said series is not adequately supplied with cotton and forreducing the rate of operation of said supplying means approximately alssoon as all of said chutes are supplied.

15. In a cotton picking system, vthe combination of a plurality ofcotton pickers, each provided with feeding means, a plurality ofapproximately upright chutes associated with the respective pickers, onefor each picker, a distributor for feeding loose cotton continuouslyinto the upper ends of said chutes, feeding means at the bottom of eachchute on which the body of cotton in the chute rests, said feeding meansbeing adjacent said picker feeding means, mechanism for driving saidfeeding means at the bottom of the chutes to cause it to feed the cottonthrough the bottom of its respective chute toward the picker associatedtherewith, cotton supplying means for preparing the cotton for pickingand delivering it to said distributor, a feeler responsive to variationsin the quantity of cotton in a chute remote from the supply end of thedistributor, an electric switch arranged to be operated by said feeler,and electrical apparatus controlled by said switch .for controlling theoperation of said cotton supplying means.

16. In a cotton picking system, the combination of an approximatelyupright chute, means for delivering a continuous web of cotton to theupper part of said chute, mechanism for feeding cotton through thebottom of said chute, a beater mounted at the upper end of said chute inposition to pick the cotton delivered thereto by said means and todischarge the cotton so picked into the chute where it will fall downthrough the chute by gravity, a rocking feeler mounted in the upper partof said chute to engage the cotton in said upper portion of the chute,an electric switch arranged to be operated by said feeler, and meansunder the control of said switch for governing the operation of saidcotton delivering means.

1'?. In a cotton picking system, the combination of an approximatelyupright chute, means for delivering a continuous4 web of cotton to the4upper part of said chute, a beater mounted at the to vary thehorizontal cross-sectional dimen-A sions of the chute, and means at thebottom of said chute for supporting the cotton therein and feeding thecotton through the bottom of the chute.

18. In a cotton picking system. the combination of an approximatelyupright chute, means for delivering a continuous web of cotton to theupper part of said chute, a beater mounted at the upper end of saidchute in position to pick the cotton delivered thereto by said means andto discharge the cotton so picked into the chute where it will fall downthrough the chute by gravity, said means including rolls for feeding thecotton to said beater and from which said beater picks the cotton,a\grid against which the cotton is thrown by said beater, partsproviding a dead air dust space immediately below said grid, and meansat the bottom of said chute for supporting the cotton therein andfeeding the cotton through the bottomy of the chute.

19. In a cotton picking system, the combination of an approximatelyupright chute, means for delivering cotton to the upper part of saidchute, a beater mounted at the upper end of said chute in position to.pick .the cotton delivered thereto by said means and to discharge thecotton so picked into the chute where it will fall ing mechanism locatedbetween said units, means ldown through the chute by'gravity, meanssupporting one wall of said chute for lateral adjustment to vary thecross-sectional dimensions of the chute, ,a hinged plate cooperatingwith said wall to guide the cotton over the upper edge of the wall, anda feeler in the upper part of said chute' opposite to said platejandmounted for swinging movement in response to variations in the height ofthe cotton in the chute.

20. In a cotton picking system, the combination with a breaker pickingunit and a finisher picking unit arranged in series for operatingsuccessively on a stream of cotton to work it into the form of a woundlap, each of said units including a beater and a condenser, of a chutefeeding mechanism located between said units, means for feeding acontinuous web of cotton from the breaker unit to said mechanism, saidmechanism including feed rolls and a beater for picking the cotton fromsaid rolls, said beater and said rolls being located at the upper partof the chute of said feeding mechanism where the cotton so picked willfall down into the chute by gravity, said chute feeding mechanismincluding feed rolls at thebottom of said chute for feeding the cottonsopicked out of the bottom of the chute, and means cooperating with thelast mentioned feed' rolls for feeding the cotton to the beater of saidfinisher unit.

21. In a cotton picking system, the combination with a breaker pickingunit and a nisher picker unit arranged in series forpperatingsuccessively on a stream of cotton to workit into the form of a woundlap, each of said units including ing thev cotton so picked out of thebottom of" a beater and va condenser, ofy a chute feeding mechanismlocated between said units, meansfor continuously feeding the web ofcotton delivered by the breaker unit to said mechanism in a c'ontinuous-and unbroken condition, said mechanism including rolls for feeding saidweb anda beater for picking the cotton from said rolls, s'aid beater andsaid rolls being located at the upper part of the chute of said feedingmechanism where the cotton so picked will fall down into the chute bygravity, said chute feeding mechanism including feed rolls at the bottomof said chute for feedthe chute, and an yevener-mechanism for feedingthe cotton 'so delivered to the beater of said iinisher unit, said lastmentioned feed rolls being under the control of said evener mechanism.

22. In a cotton picking system, the combina-'- tion with a breakerpicking unit and a finisher picking unit arranged in series foroperating: successivelxg on a stream of cotton to work`itf into the formof a wound lap, each of said units including a beater and a condenser,of a chute feedfor continuously feeding the web of cotton delivered bythe breaker unit to said mechanism in a continuous and unbrokencondition, said chute feeding mechanism including rolls for feeding saidweb and a beater for picking` the cotton from said rolls, said beaterand said rolls being located at the upper part of the chute of saidfeeding mechanism where the cotton so pickedI will fall down into thechute by gravity, said chute feeding mechanism including feed rolls atthe bottom of said chute for feeding the cotton so picked out of thebottom of the chute, means cooperating with the last mentioned feedrolls for feeding the cotton to the beater of said finisher unit, and afeeler in thel upper part of said chute where it is responsive tovariations in the quantity of cotton in said upper part of the chute,

said feeding means for feeding the cotton to the chute being under thecontrol of said feeler.

23. In a cotton picking system, the combination of an approximatelyupright chute, a beater mounted at the upper part of said chute, meansfor delivering a continuous web of cotton to said beater, said meansincluding feed rolls from which the beater picks the cotton anddischarges the picked cotton directly into the upper part of said chutewhere it falls down through said chute by gravity, feed rolls at thebottom of said chute -on which the greater part of the weight of thecotton in the chute-is supported, said rolls serving to feed the cottonthrough the bottom of the chute, a feeler fork in engagement with thecotton in the upper part of said chute and responsive automatically tovariations in the quantity of cotton in said upper portion of the chute,driving mechanism for said cotton delivering means, and means under thecontrol of said forkv for controlling the operation of said drivingmechanism.

24. In a cotton picking system, the combination of a plurality of cottonpickers, a plurality of approximately upright chutes associated with therespective pickers, one for each picker, a distributor for feeding loosecotton into the upper ends of said chutes and serving to maintain saidchutes approximately lled with cotton substantially continuously,`feeding means at the bottom of each chute, feeding means for eachpicker, said latter` feeding means arranged adjacent said first feedingmeans, and mechanism for driving both feeding means to cause them tofeed the 'cotton from the chute in a continuous unbroken stream to thebeater of its respective picker.

ROBERT S. CURLEY. WILLIAM: SHAW.

